The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has transitioned from a mere sporting tournament into a global financial behemoth, recently crossing valuation milestones that have sent shockwaves through the sporting world. As the league cements its status as the second most valuable sports property globally per match, the off-field drama is proving to be just as explosive as the action on the pitch. The latest season hasn’t just been defined by centuries and wickets, but by a high-stakes digital spat involving the league’s ‘founding father’ and one of its most prominent current owners.
The fuse was lit following the historic sale of two of the league’s legacy franchises: the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The numbers involved are staggering. RR, originally purchased for approximately ₹270 crore in 2008, was recently valued at over ₹15,000 crore. RCB followed suit, with a valuation leap from ₹485 crore at its inception to a massive ₹16,600 crore.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka took to social media to celebrate these figures, attributing the exponential growth to the current governance of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Goenka specifically praised the ‘architecture of the IPL’ and the ‘vision of Jay Shah,’ crediting the structuring of digital and broadcast rights for giving investors the confidence to pour billions into the ecosystem. While the tweet seemed like a standard congratulatory note on the league’s health, it acted as a lightning rod for the man who claims the original blueprint for the IPL.
1/ @rajasthanroyals, acquired for roughly ₹270 crore in 2008, have just been sold for over ₹15,000 crore. @RCBTweets, acquired for roughly ₹485 crore, sold for over ₹16,600 crore. Two franchises, same week, each over ₹15,000 crore.
That value was built by the architecture…
— Dr. Sanjiv Goenka (@DrSanjivGoenka) March 25, 2026
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‘Clown’ remark sparks controversy as Lalit Modi hits out at LSG owner
The response from Lalit Modi, the former IPL Commissioner currently living in London, was swift and characteristically unfiltered. Modi, who was instrumental in launching the IPL in 2008 before his controversial exit, took direct aim at Goenka’s historical perspective—or lack thereof.
In a scathing retort, Modi labeled Goenka a ‘clown’ and suggested the billionaire was suffering from memory loss regarding who actually conceived the IPL model. Modi didn’t stop at professional critiques; he made it personal by comparing Sanjiv to his brother, Harsh Goenka, stating he wished the latter owned the franchise instead, calling him a true cricket fan.
Modi’s outburst underscores a long-standing tension between the league’s old guard and its current leadership. By claiming Goenka has zero knowledge and a swelled-up head, Modi is essentially fighting for his legacy, asserting that the current multi-billion dollar valuations are the result of the foundation he laid nearly two decades ago, rather than just the efforts of current BCCI administrators.
The controversy has divided fans and analysts alike. While many acknowledge the incredible job the current BCCI team has done in scaling the league to ₹16,000 crore valuations, others feel Modi’s foundational role in the IPL architecture is often unfairly scrubbed from the official narrative. As the IPL 2026 season kicks off, this war of words serves as a reminder that in the world of cricket’s elite, egos are often as large as the bank balances.
Seriously this guy really has a memory loss of who conceived the model. Thats ok. He just lives in his own world. We all know that 🤣🤣🤣 @DrSanjivGoenka is a 🤡
wish it was his brother @hvgoenka who owned the ipl franchise. He is a true cricket fan. Not this clown – who thinks… https://t.co/m8eBdAOHHX— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) March 26, 2026
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